Could you use six ways to find your best ideas before you start writing? K. M. Welland may have some answers for you. For writers, ideas are the primal matter. No ideas, no stories. But sometimes trying to figure out how to find your best ideas is like catching butterflies. They flit in; they flitContinueContinue reading “Find Your Best Ideas”
Tag Archives: Writing Tips
Making Your Fiction A Place You Want To Be
Author Janet Key shares the feeling of not wanting to revisit the world she was creating and the tools she used to help make her fiction a place she wanted to be. Last fall, I decided with great determination that it was finally time to finish that literary novel of mine. At that point, IContinueContinue reading “Making Your Fiction A Place You Want To Be”
Four Reasons to Use Internal Thoughts in Your Writing
K. M. Allan talks us through four reasons to use internal thoughts in our writing. A majestic cypress tree grew outside my grade 11 classroom window, eons ago. I remember spending hours staring at it, exploring its velvety green branches and reflecting on the boredom of my classes and wondering what I might do withContinueContinue reading “Four Reasons to Use Internal Thoughts in Your Writing”
Nail That First Line!
Darynda Jones’ book – First Grave on the Right Laura Drake talks about why the first line of a book is important. Stephen King reflected on the magnitude of a novel’s introductory sentence. “An opening line should invite the reader to begin the story,” he said. “It should say: Listen. Come in here. You wantContinueContinue reading “Nail That First Line!”
Advanced Craft Tips
Laura Drake discusses points relating to the difference between a good writer and a popular writer. I do a lot of critiquing. As I get better at the craft, I’m starting to catch the nuances of good writing; things beyond the basics of POV, show don’t tell, etc. They’re subtler and harder to spot, butContinueContinue reading “Advanced Craft Tips”
The Stories Maps Can Tell
Guest Blogger, Vicki Felmlee’s Research Leads to a Treasure Trove of Information. 1947 Map of Colorado How often have you, as a writer, had an idea or a theory about something and after diving into old journals, maps, and newspaper articles you discover you were right, that “Eureka!” moment. About 10 years ago I wasContinueContinue reading “The Stories Maps Can Tell”
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